Word Origin & History

cover c.1150, from O.Fr. covrir, from L.L. coperire, from L. cooperire "to cover over," from com- intens. prefix + operire "to close, cover" (see weir). Military sense is from 1687; newspaper sense first recorded 1893; use in football dates from 1907. Betting sense is 1857. As a euphemism for "copulation of horses" it dates from 1535. Meaning "recording of a song already recorded by another" is 1966. Cover-up is from 1927. Cover girl is U.S. slang from 1915, shortening of magazine-cover girl.

Example Sentences for cover up

There is still much of that spirit in our country; there are no affairs which men seek so much to cover up as public affairs.

He could sail in her when he pleased, and cover up his tracks very effectually.

But she understood that Uncle Copas loved her, and was uttering these whimsies to cover up the love he revealed.

The patient should immediately go to bed and cover up warmly.

Cover up the ends of the half-rounds, and sprinkle them pretty with fine ballast if you can do it in an hour.

That's why; to cover up the fact that he's only—well, what they call him.

For if you have a price on your head you have to be careful to cover up your tracks.

It was necessary that his Grace of Buckingham should cover up an indiscretion.

Cover up that great bald pumpkin, or upon my word I'll give it something!

For he had reckoned without his Janko, always at hand to cover up a scandal.